Item 3: Ratification of Intergovernmental Relations Committee Actions

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HB 2819 Mr. Cushman believed that the bill would not fly as it was written. He said it was a very broad exemption to the advisement requirement. He noted the department’s desire to waive the requirement for in-car videos specifically. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Mr. Pryor, moved to change the position on the bill to Oppose. The motion passed unanimously, 3:0. HB 2865 Mr. Cushman stated that the bill was written with the intent to bolster impaired driving enforcement, but it was badly written and contained some unintended consequences. He opposed the bill as written. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Mr. Pryor, moved to change the recommended stance on the bill to Oppose unless amended. The motion passed unanimously, 3:0. HB 2874 Mr. Cushman explained that the bill required the Attorney General to take charge of the investigation or prosecution of any death caused by a police officer in the line of duty. He said it was an unfunded mandate. He stated that what would make sense in terms of standardizing the situation would be to have the Attorney General’s office review every investigation. He felt this would ensure a thorough and objective investigation had been undertaken and that there would be some consistency in how they were handled. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Ms. Taylor, moved to change the recommended stance on the bill to Monitor. Ms. Bettman averred that at this point the Lane County District Attorney oversaw such investigations. Mr. Cushman affirmed that statutorily the District Attorney’s office of each county was charged with the responsibility of those types of death investigations. Ms. Bettman asserted that there was much overlap between the Eugene Police Department (EPD) and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) that it was “very much like having the police monitoring their own investigations.” The motion passed unanimously, 3:0. HB 2890 Ms. Bettman, seconded by Mr. Pryor, moved to adopt the staff’s position that the bill be a Priority 3 Support with the amendment that would reduce possession of a handcuff key by someone with prior convictions to a misdemeanor. The motion passed unanimously, 3:0. HB 2934 Ms. Bettman supported the underlying objective of the bill though she did not support this specific bill. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Ms. Taylor, moved to take an Oppose stance against the bill MINUTES—Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations April 12, 2007 Page 4